14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 
where cats sleep become well filled with the eggs. These 
hatch in about two weeks into little, white, footless, maggot- 
like larve (Figure 18), which have small tufts of hairs along 
the sides. They are at first about one-sixteenth of an inch © 
long. The head is pale yellow, and the posterior end of the 
body bears two spines. These larvae feed upon the decaying 
particles of animal and vegetable matter always to be found 
in the dirt in which they live. They move about by'means of 
their hairs and spines. They grow rapidly in warm weather, 
and in about twelve days, when they mature, spin a slight 
silken cocoon and change to a pupa, which is inactive. 
This looks more like the mature flea and has the legs free. 
In a short time, varying from ten to sixteen days or more, 
according to temperature, the pupa matures, and the full — 
formed flea comes forth from the cocoon, ready and willing 
- to take care of itself. This it does by leaping upon the first 
living creature that comes within range ; but no doubt it is 
better suited with the cat than with other animals. This 
mode of increase and the habits of the young will explain the 
reason why fleas are often obtained out of doors, especially in 
gardens frequented by cats or dogs. Such fleas are often 
called “sand-fleas,” but they are simply the progeny from eggs 
of cat or dog fleas that have been hatched and lived in the 
dirt or soil. They pass the winter both in the mature and 
larval states, and perhaps also as eggs and pupe. There are 
several broods each season. 
The Dog-Flea (Pulex canis Curtis). Figure 19. 
This species is very similar to the last, and is considered 
the same by several writers. It has the same form and color, 
and the same rows of spines below the sides of the head and 
. on the thorax. But there appears to be some difference in 
the mouth organs. The posterior tarsi in this species are 
Figure 17.—Cat-flea (Pulex felis Bouché), much enlarged; a, the maxillary 
palpi arising from the bases of the maxillez, b; c, the labial palpi; d, the slender 
mandibles. The labrum is not shown. From Packard’s Guide. 
Figure 18.—Larva of Cat-flea (Puler felis Bouché), much enlarged; a, one of 
the antenne more highly magnified; b, posterior end of the body, showing the 
two spines. From Packard’s Guide. 
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